Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze has joined in the debate about Bafana Bafana’s goalkeeper selection for the 2026 FIFA World Cup while presenting his case for Amakhosi captain Brandon Petersen.
South Africa coach Hugo Broos is expected to name his squad for the quadrennial global football tournament in the next few days. Bafana are preparing for the football fiesta where they are in Group A together with co-hosts Mexico, the Czech Republic and South Korea.
One of the areas in the Bafana setup already generating fierce discussions is the goalkeeping department. It is a department where Broos and his goalkeeper’s coach, Grant Johnson, appear spoilt for choice with a wide pool of options.
Captain Ronwen Williams is almost guaranteed a plane seat to the World Cup to be hosted by Mexico, the USA and Canada. There was debate when Sipho Chaine was excluded from March’s international friendly matches against Panama while Sekhukhune United’s Renaldo Leaner was preferred.
But the Orlando Pirates shot-stopper has made a strong case for a World Cup spot after keeping 20 clean sheets in the Betway Premiership this season—setting a new PSL record and eclipsing Williams’ previous mark. Siwelele FC’s Richado Goss is trusted by Broos and could make the squad after being at the 2023 and 2025 AFCON finals.
Now, Petersen has been solid between the sticks, with his latest exploits being Saturday’s Man of the Match showing against AmaZulu FC in the league. The 31-year-old has managed 15 league clean sheets this season.
Broos has previously stated that had Petersen not been injured in March, he would have selected him for the Panama friendlies.
KAZE ASKS BROOS FOR TRANSPARENCY AS HE BACKS PETERSEN FOR WORLD CUP CALL-UP
“I don’t want to comment on the call-up or no call-up. The national team coach is experienced and knows what he wants from his team. We need him to choose the players he wants in a very transparent way,” said Kaze.
“I just wish to see Brendon Petersen going to the World Cup because he deserves it by the qualities that he has shown, as well as the consistency that he has shown throughout the season.”
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PETERSEN OF LAST SEASON AND THIS TERM
“I would say that what has changed is, first, the number of minutes, because he didn’t play much last season. He played in the final of the Nedbank Cup,” Kaze stated.
“This season, he got a lot of time, and he is a player who works hard. He trains every day with the same attitude and energy, and I would like to tell the players that very good things happen to good people.
The coach praised Petersen’s character, noting that he possesses tremendous human qualities on top of his footballing ability.
“I am very happy that this is happening to him,” he added regarding Petersen’s World Cup prospects. “Petersen deserves everything that is happening to him.”
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